Once Upon A Time (ABC)

[snarkbunny]

I don't know who he is and really haven't given it any thought at all. We'll find out when we find out. But if they wanted him to be the wolf, I doubt they'd back away from it because of the Fables connotation.

Agreed, although if we then find out that Graham and Mary Margaret are exes, I think the writers should get smacked upside the head.

[marshal99]

I can't see how this series can really be that long term. We already know the end-game - Emma will be the one to save the town which will lead to the final battle and since everything happens in one town , i seriously doubt that they can drag it out to several seasons before that end game. There's only so much you can do with the storyline although i get the feeling that the final battle will end up being against Rumpelstiltskin rather than the evil queen. He's the one with all the power , he's someone that the queen cannot touch.
Beyond the end game after the final battle with the happily ever after , where can you go with the series ?

[kalorama]

Beyond the end game after the final battle with the happily ever after , where can you go with the series ?

But there's no reason they can't put that end game off for several years. There are plenty of intermediate conflicts they can throw up between now and then.

[Kalen O.]

And since we've already referenced Fables to death, its worth mentioning that one need only look to that series to see there's plenty of ways to continue the story after the 'final battle' with the 'evil adversary' has been won. There's always a bigger bad, why should this show be any different? So they win the final battle against the evil queen and break the curse...oh wait, but it was Rumpelstilskin who made the curse in the first place, he's another big bad to face after the queen...beat him...oh hey, remember Maleficent? She found another curse or power source to tap into and now she's a bigger bad than them both. And that's three characters from just the first two episodes. There's any number of fairy tale villains they can bring in.

The curse and the prophecy are not the show's premise. The curse is merely the catalyst or the inciting incident, and the prophecy is merely the culmination of the INITIAL storyline.

It's a little early to assume we've got the whole show figured out, not to mention its ending.

[kalorama]

The curse and the prophecy are not the show's premise. The curse is merely the catalyst or the inciting incident, and the prophecy is merely the culmination of the INITIAL storyline.

I'm not so sure about that. The way the story is being set up, the breaking of the curse would almost have to be either preceded or followed by the revelation of the truth about their origins to the show's characters, at which the fairy tale stuff we've only been seeing in flashbacks starts to play out in the modern world (in some form). I really don't see that happening. I think a big part of the show's premise is both us (the audience) and them (the characters) not knowing if the fairy tale stuff is real or all in Henry's head/book. Once they make it's reality explicit, this becomes a much different show than what we're seeing now. Which isn't necessarily a problem per se, except that there's a very real risk that the show it would be might not appeal to a lot of the people who grew to enjoy the show that it is.

[Kalen O.]

I'm not so sure about that. The way the story is being set up, the breaking of the curse would almost have to be either preceded or followed by the revelation of the truth about their origins to the show's characters, at which the fairy tale stuff we've only been seeing in flashbacks starts to play out in the modern world (in some form). I really don't see that happening. I think a big part of the show's premise is both us (the audience) and them (the characters) not knowing if the fairy tale stuff is real or all in Henry's head/book. Once they make it's reality explicit, this becomes a much different show than what we're seeing now. Which isn't necessarily a problem per se, except that there's a very real risk that the show it would be might not appeal to a lot of the people who grew to enjoy the show that it is.

Hmm, well I guess we just view it fundamentally differently then. I don't think they're trying to be unclear about whether or not the fairy tale stuff is real. From stuff like the mayor and Mr. Gold's interactions to the clock starting up again to just previews about Prince Charming/John Doe waking up in the next episode...I think they're definitely treating it as real. More importantly, if they were trying to make it ambiguous, I'd expect the production play at least a LITTLE coy with that aspect of things in interviews, but in every place I've seen them talking about it they treat the fairy tale stuff very matter of factly, with no indication they meant for anyone to take it at less than face value.

But I guess time will tell.

[AdamYJ]

I think it's meant to be more like dramatic irony. We know it's real, but none of the characters think it is.

I've been thinking about the Enchanted Forest, actually. When the curse struck, what happened to it? Is it just empty? Maybe someone came in and took it over. Maybe after the curse is lifted, the action will move to the fantasy realm with the characters trying to get their home back.

[kalorama]

Hmm, well I guess we just view it fundamentally differently then. I don't think they're trying to be unclear about whether or not the fairy tale stuff is real. From stuff like the mayor and Mr. Gold's interactions to the clock starting up again to just previews about Prince Charming/John Doe waking up in the next episode...I think they're definitely treating it as real. More importantly, if they were trying to make it ambiguous, I'd expect the production play at least a LITTLE coy with that aspect of things in interviews, but in every place I've seen them talking about it they treat the fairy tale stuff very matter of factly, with no indication they meant for anyone to take it at less than face value.

Not everyone who watches the show reads all the interviews with creators, so I don't really count that as a factor; what happens on the screen is all that really matters. And while I definitely think the fairy tell stuff is real, there is also a pretty clear sense of "what if" ambiguity in how the show is set up and how that part of it is presented.

I think it's meant to be more like dramatic irony. We know it's real, but none of the characters think it is.

Exactly. And once the characters become fully aware of it, the dynamic of the show changes radically.

[Pro]

Given that they've already introduced a bigger bad the evil queen called upon to make the curse happen the series could go on for much longer than the current main plot.
Rumplestilskin also referred to these darker forces and he seemed more in touch with them than even the evil queen. He told her what was needed to finish the curse, he is basically in charge since not even the mayor can deny his requests if he says Please and he has power over Emma through her name.

If these darker forces are capable of creating a curse that either wiped away the old fairytale land or transplanted its population the series could well spin into a situation where the fairytale characters have to rescue the real world from the forces unleashed by the evil queen. There is always a price for a curse and the queen may have opened the gates between worlds.

[dupersuper]

*groan* Love at first sight then?

If that makes you groan, you may want to rethink watching the fairy tale show.

[Libaax]

Having seen ep 2 late i must say the flashbacks are almost cringeworthy. It looks so fake effects wise. Ep 2 story in modern world was more interesting. The intrigue between Swann, Gold, the evil queen will decide if the series is supernatural,urban fantasy enough for my taste.

If its written like mundane drama like Desperate Housewife i have no interest.

Hope the evil queen remembers soon so something can happen storywise.

[streator]

i tried watching bits & pieces of this and i just can't get into it. in my mind i'm thinking "do i really want to watch a show based on fairy tales" and the answer is no. sorry, losties.

[passer-by]

If that makes you groan, you may want to rethink watching the fairy tale show.

If it was in fairytale land, no problem, it comes with the territory.

But one of the things I like in OUAT is that the characters behave differently in fairytale land and in the modern world.

[AdamYJ]

If it was in fairytale land, no problem, it comes with the territory.

But one of the things I like in OUAT is that the characters behave differently in fairytale land and in the modern world.

They're a little bit different, but also a little bit the same. The Evil Queen is still a selfish authority figure and Snow White is still a fair-skinned and kind-hearted woman who's routinely surrounded by little people (dwarves in one realm, children in another).

Anyway, don't think of this as love at first sight so much as attraction or infatuation. Graham's got "a thing" for Emma. Whether that turns into more substantial or not only the future can show.

[kalorama]

. . . Snow White is still a fair-skinned and kind-hearted woman who's routinely surrounded by little people (dwarves in one realm, children in another).

Huh. Somehow, I completely missed that juxtaposition.